Abstract: A method of allocating communication resources in a communication system includes retrieving (404) from the communication system a communication system resource allocation. An allocation parameter is set to an initial value (406) and communication resources are randomly selected from cells (414). A candidate communication resource is either swapped or mutated for the selected communication resource (416) and the system performance is evaluated with the candidate communication resource (422). If system performance is improved the candidate resource is retained as part of the allocation (426, 432), or if system performance is degraded, the candidate resource is retained with a probability (428, 432). The steps repeat while the allocation parameter is valid (408), and upon completion a new communication resource allocation is downloaded to the communication system (410).

Abstract: A substrate alignment and retainer clip (10, 20) is provided which includes an anchor (12, 13, 40), a retainer (11, 42), and a biasing device (11, 41), joining and aligning the anchor (12, 13, 40) and retainer (11, 42), for biasing the retainer (11, 42) towards the anchor (12, 13, 40).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is offered of multiplexing control information into a user signal stream in a cellular communication system using code division multiple access. The method includes the steps of determining a temporal measure (101) of control information to be substituted for a corresponding measure of user information, substituting (102) the control information into the signal stream while buffering a corresponding temporal measure of user information, and resuming transmission (103) of user information beginning with the buffered user information.

Abstract: The method consists of analyzing a handoff request received from a source base station at a source base site controller (BSC). If the handoff request contains a preferred base site list (is from a MAHO environment) the request is forwarded to the mobile switching center. If the handoff request does not contain the preferred list, the BSC generates a candidate list and transmits measurement messages to each candidate base site. The candidate base sites take measurements and reply to the BSC. The BSC uses the replies to generate a preferred base site list which is forwarded to the MSC. When the MSC receives a preferred base site list, it selects a handoff base site and executes the handoff.

Abstract: A method of reducing interference within a cellular system (10) by partitioning a designated frequency spectrum within a service coverage area (.0.1, .0.2, or .0.3) into a first and at least second spectrum inclusive of the designated frequency spectrum, each with an associated power level, and offsetting the spectrums for each TDM frame under the control of an offset number unique to each TDM frame. Assignment of communication units to a spectrum and power level are based upon distance from the base site (as determined through signal strength measurements). The spectral content of spectrums in adjacent service coverage areas is adjusted to include non-coincidental frequencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for locally routing calls in a communication system. The method and apparatus provide PSTN interconnects (N, P, Q,) at each of the base station controllers (11, 14) and at the mobile switching center (12). A control intercept (13) intercepts PSTN command information being communicated between the mobile switching center (12) and the base station controllers (11, 14), and routes the PSTN command information to a PSTN interconnect (N, P) at a base station controller (11, 14) when local call service is required.

Abstract: A method of secure key distribution in a communication system having a plurality of subscriber units and an infrastructure communication center is provided. A first subscriber unit sends a request to the infrastructure communication center for a secure communication link with a second subscriber unit. This request includes an encrypted session encryption key which was encrypted with a first subscriber registration key. The infrastructure communication center decrypts the encrypted session encryption key with the first subscriber registration key. Subsequently, the infrastructure communication center re-encrypts the session encryption key with a second subscriber registration key. This re-encrypted session encryption key is sent to the second subscriber unit. In an alternative method, the first subscriber unit and the infrastructure communication center a priori know a session key.

Abstract: A method of reducing an audio gap in a signal connection with a communication unit during handoff in a cellular communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a temporary signal connection with the communication unit from a mobile switching center (MSC) of a source base site, through the source base site to a handoff target base site and establishing a trunk connection from the MSC of the source base site to a MSC of the target base site. The method further includes the step of interconnecting, at the target base site, the temporary signal connection, trunk connection, and communication unit; and re-routing the signal connection with the communication unit through the trunk connection.

Abstract: In a cellular radio-telephone system (50), a method of selecting an appropriate handoff target where the timing advance of a mobile has exceeded a timing advance threshold, the bit error rate has risen above a BER theshold, or the signal level has fallen below an RSSI threshold. The method includes discarding signal measurements of inappropriate base sites or base sites at excessive distance and performing calculations on the remaining measurements to select an appropriate handoff target.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for maximum likelihood sequence estimation. The method and apparatus includes a first maximum likelihood sequence estimator signal path for flat fading and an at least second maximum likelihood sequence estimator signal path for other than flat fading. The method and apparatus for further includes selecting the signal path with a least relative magnitude mean square error.